CLINICAL AND HAEMATOLOGICAL FEATURES OF STRESS INDUCED BABESIOSIS IN BABESIA EQUI INFECTED INDIGENOUS HORSES

Abstract

Studies on actively stressed 3. equi infected premuned indigenous polo horses, manifested severe clinical syndromes characterised by partial anorexia, hyperthermia, lethargy, extreme weakness, marked dehydration, ecchymotic third eyelid, pale mucous membranes, sternal recumbency and coma. Some horses showed complete anorexia, obvious colicy symptoms, watery blood, and haemoglobinuria. The haematological changes in the affected horses included highly significantly (P<0.01) low packed cell volume, reduced haemoglobin concentration, depleted red blood cell counts and highly significantly (P<0.01) depleted neutrophils and lymphocytes.